Lining Your Sites Properly; Accident Location Surveys Done Right

Volume 1 / Edition 7

This Week; Focus On: Lining Your Sites Properly; Accident Location Surveys Done Right

At BNI, standardization is the key word. Accidents/incidents generally occur without notice (one would hope). An investigator is dispatched to the accident location as soon possible to ascertain and record conditions that are representative of those existing on the date of loss. Often, she is armed with a minimum of facts and direction as the accident information is just beginning to filter in. To minimize incomplete information gathering, we've found that applying a standard format to this type of field investigation yields the best results for our clients.

This week, we will concentrate on site surveys. Usually designated for trip/slip and falls, a site survey needs to relay to the attorney and insurer the location of incident and the conditions present thereat on the date and time of loss. The site survey should provide a clear, accurate and concise picture of the area of incident and note the contributory factors involved in your client's matter.

To that end, we've provided an outline of site survey components:

1. Photographs:
- initial overview (including identifying street signs, should be taken clockwise, encompassing an entire 360 degree view of the L/A, preferably beginning in the north direction)
- from the victim's perspective: begin with far shots; end with close ups of defect/contributory factor
- defect shots: outdoors: 1. avoid shade and shadows, if possible, and 2. include a marker (pen, ruler, notepad... ) to show relative size of defect; indoors: defects are easier to identify in photographs against a contrast background (e.g. for broken light colored steps, place a dark notebook pad behind the defect, in an upright position and photograph)

2. Site Survey:
- date of investigation
- time of investigation
- site description (sidewalk i/f/o commercial property, overhead exterior drainage pipe)
- ground type (pavement, roadway... )
- ground material (concrete, rubber matting... )
- lighting conditions (poor, fair, good)
- ground inclination/declination present
- site assessment (defects, disrepair, abnormalities - e.g. excess water from drainage pipe)
- contributory factors (water tends to pool at this location and form into black ice, causing a dangerous and known slippery sidewalk condition)

3. Diagram:
- drawn from the north perspective (as all maps are drawn to the north)
- notes relative position and defect dimensions

Remitting the site survey in digital format greatly decreases turnaround time and the risk of information loss due to delayed or misdirected mail.

Please feel absolutely welcome to request our standard Site Survey form.

BNI investigators: Street smart; net savvy.

I look forward to any comments you may have or and questions I can answer for you.

Sincerely,

Lina Marie Maini
Editor, The Beacon Bulletin
CEO, Beacon Network Investigations, Inc.